Life-saving apparatus.



A. N. MoGRAY.-

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. a, 1 m

1,130,528. Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

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A. N. MGGRAY.

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3, 1913 1,1 30,528. Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

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Illlll I: NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOT6-LlTHO.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

A. N. MGGRAY- LIFE SAVING APPARATUS. v APPLIGATION FILED DEC. 3. 1913 Patented Mar. 2, 191 5.

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ARTHUR, 1v. IVIQGBAY, on NEW YORK, 1v. Y.

LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 3, 1913. Serial No. 804,373.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR N. MOGRAY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Life-Saving Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates generally to life saving apparatus, and more particularly to a net or an inclined way for use in connection with ships, especially large ones, whereby easy and safe disembarking of passengers and crew from a ship in distress to life boats can be effected, especially during the running of a heavy sea, and where by the passengers can with corresponding ease and safety board a rescuing ship from life boats. At the present time with oceangoing ships equipped with the most improved life saving apparatus it is practically impossible without great hazard to life to rescue passengers and crew from a distressed ship, especially by means of life boats, when there is a high sea running. It is not only dangerous to launch a life boat filled with passengers, but the disembarking from the life boats to a rescuing ship is correspondingly dangerous.

It is the general object of the present invention to improve life saving methods whereby the transfer of passengers and crew from a disabled ship to a rescuing ship can be accomplished with maximum safety and despatch.

In carrying out the invention the ship will be equipped with booms which are-attached by universal connections to the ships side, and are let out therefrom to assume a position of about thirty-five degrees, and

to the outboard ends of the booms are attached pontoons or other float means whereby the booms will be buoyant and ride on the surface of the water, these booms serving to support a life net made of rope network or open-work canvas to form an incline. up and down which the passengers can move. One of the ships life rafts will be used at the bottom of the net as a landing, and as the outboard extremity of the life net is held steady by fore and aft guy ropes and as this outboard end is buoyant it is possible for life boats to moor thereto for the purpose of taking on or leaving off passengers. Obviously the outboard end of the life net will rise and fall with the waves, but so also will the life boat when moored thereto for taking on or leaving oi'f passengers. When not in use the network is removed from the booms, and the forward boom is hauled upwardly and forwardly, and the aft boom hauled upwardly and aft so as to be stored along the bulwark or railing of the main deck without the inboard ends of these booms being disconnected from their anchorage at the main deck of the ship, so that the booms will always be in readiness for use.

For a more detailed understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings taken in connection with the following description and claims.-

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate certain embodiments of the invention, and wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of the side of a ship showing the life saving apparatus in out-rigged position;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the ship, showing the life saving apparatus in perspective from underneath and forward;-

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the outboard end of the apparatus; Fig. 41- is a side Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

view of the main deck, showing the booms V in stored-away position; Fig. 5 is anenlarged view showing the universal connection between the inboard end of the'boom and the bulwark of the main deck; Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of they bulwark, showing the position of the boom-sustaining float in stored position in the recess ofthe bulwark and resting on the main deck; Fig. 7 is a view showing a boom, the float therefor and the connecting means between the two; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the outboard end of a boom and its float; Fig. 9

' is a fragmentary view of the side of a boat of high free board and equipped with means whereby the booms can beswung from a point below the main deck; and Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view on the line 10' 10,-

Fig.9. 1

Referring to the drawings, A and A represent fore and aft booms whichxare made of any suitable material, such as, for instance, bundled reed wood or bamboo for lightness, such booms being of a proper length that with their inboard ends lconnected with the ships side at the main deck B and their outboard ends 2 reaching to the water, they will be disposed at an angle of about thirty-five degrees to the horizontal. The inboard ends 1 of the booms are securely fastened to the ship while the outboard ends are provided with buoyant means so that the apparatus will rise and fall with the waves. Any suitable buoyant means may be provided; for instance, the booms may have floats C and C shackled or otherwise movably connected therewith. In the present instance, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the float C has bands 3 spaced apart thereon, and these bands are connected by links 4 to a ring 5 which is rotatable and loosely held on the boom by means of spaced bands or stops 6 extending around the boom. The floats C are adapted to be permanently connected to their respective booms, and as these booms are intended to be stored away along the outside of the bulwark or railing of the main deck, the floats are each made flat at one end 7 so as to be seated upright on the main deck B, as shown in Figs. 4: and 6. The floats C and C are connected respectively with guy ropes D and D which are fastened to cleats or other devices, not shown, arranged on the ships deck, whereby the apparatus will be held in outstanding position from the side of the ship.

As the booms are adapted to rise and fall with the waves the inboard ends of the booms are movably secured to the ship, and preferably a suitable type of universal joint E and E, Figs. l and 5, is employed, whereby the booms A and A can, when not in use, occupy a horizontal position along the outside of the bulwark F of the main deck B. Each joint comprises a vertical spindle or shank 8 rotatable in a bearing 9 and having a head 10 formed with one or more eyes 11 into which extends a horizontal pintle 12 that connects the head 10 with the lug 13 formed on the cap 14 fastened to the boom. By this means the boom can swing on a horizontal axis formed by the pintle 1:2, and also on a vertical axis formed by the spindle 8. The bearing 9 is shown as being formed on a bracket 15 of the bulwark, but this hearing, as well as the construction of the universal joint, can be modified to suit conditions. The hinged joints E and E for the inboard ends of the booms are spaced a suitable distance apart, and the bulwark may be provided with a removable section F to provide for passengers to step from the main deck on to the life saving apparatus, or vice versa. The bulwark has external channels 7 and f at each side of the removable section F, so as to accommodate the booms A and A when the latter are not in use, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, and to accommodate the floats C and G the bulwark will have offsets or recesses f and F.

The booms are adapted to hold a rope network G which is of such size as to run the full length. of the booms and fill the space between them. ()n the booms are sliding rings a, to which clip hooks g on the side edges of the net G are adapted to engage. The net G, which may of course be made of any suitable material, is reinforced or sustained by cross-wires or ropes g spaced three or four feet apart and disposed under the net with the ends of the wire connected with the edges of the net, the latter being provided with a wire rope 9 all around its edges. The outboard end of the net G has outhaul tackles h and h which run through blocks 72. if, respectively, fastened to the outer ends of the booms A and A, as shown in Fig. 1. These tackles are adapted to be fastened to cleats or other devices 2' and 2" at the main deck. By pulling in on these tackles the net is drawn outwardly and held taut by the tackles being fastened to the cleats. The inhaul ropes j and j are connected with the outboard end of the net and may be used for drawing in the not when the apparatus isto be unrigged. In order to draw the outer ends of the booms together and serve as a guy, an intermediate guy tackle in is connected with the outer end of the boom A and passes through the block h which is of the double sheave type, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and this tackle 71; extends inboard and can be fastened to the cleat 2", or a suitably arranged cleat. After the tackle is is tightened the guy ropes D and D are drawn taut so that the booms will be maintained fixedly in proper relation. To hoist the booms they are provided with a topping lift Z and Z connected with the outer ends of the booms and extending upwardly therefrom to and through blocks Z and Z suitably arranged at the boat deck H, and these topping lifts or tackles are adapted to be wound and unwound on an engine or other operated drum Z Fig. 2.

To provide a suitable landing at the outboard end of the net G, a life raft I may be utilized. This raft, which is of usual construction, is provided with clip hooks I for connection with the outer edge of the net. This raft also contributes in maintaining the outboard end of the apparatus buoyant. The raft I is adapted to be let down from the davits T to the boat deck, and before the net is attached to the booms the raft is fastened to the outer edge of the net, and as the raft lowers, the hooks on the side edges of the net are attached successively to the rings on the booms, whereby the net is carried outwardly to the outboard ends of the booms.

In rigging up the apparatus the booms A and A are first thrown outboard from the position shown in Fig. 4, the outer ends being sustained by the floats. The outer ends of the booms are drawn together by the tackle is which has a stop thereon is which engages the block h when the booms are drawn together in their proper relation. The fore and aft guys D and D are next tightened. The net G, which is usually stored away at a convenient point, is next placed in readiness to be attached to the booms. A life raft is lowered and the outer edge of the net is fastened thereto. The outer corners of the net are fastened to the outermost rings on the booms, and as the raft lowers it carries the net with it, and

during this outward feeding of the net the latter is hooked to the successive rings. Finally the haul-out tackles h and h are drawn taut so as to maintain the proper tautness of the net, the upper end of the net being secured by suitable fastenings J to the main deck. The topping lifts are slackened so that the outboard end of the life saving apparatus can rise and fall with the waves. When thus rigged, the apparatus forms a safe and effective means for the disembarkment or embarkment of passengers to and from life boats which are brought up to and moored at the life raft which forms the landing. Persons can easily ascend and descend, since the net is suspended at an angle of about thirty-five degrees.

In the case of extremely large ships having a high free board it may be preferable to provide means for suspending the life saving apparatus from a point suitably below the main deck, as otherwise the total length of the apparatus would be abnormally great. The arrangement shown in Figs. 9 and 10 meets this condition. On the sides of the boat are vertical rails or equivalent devices K and K on which slide blocks 74 and k to which the inboard ends of the booms are hingedly connected. When in use these slides or blocks and k are disposed at the lower ends of the tracks and they can be drawn up to the main deck by means of cables 70 and 70 To reach the life net from the main deck a ladder or equivalent means L may be employed.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation, to-

gether with the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a ship, with an apparatus for the embarking and disembarking of passengers, said apparatus comprising a pair of booms held a fixed distance apart at their inboard ends on the ship and free to rise and fall at their outer ends independently of each other by the motion of the waves, means between the ship and booms for preventing lateral swinging thereof while permitting swinging up and down in a vertical plane, and adevice'carried by the booms to form a way on which persons can walk in embarking and disembarking.

2. The combination of a ship, with an apparatus for the embarking and disembarking of passengers, said apparatus comprising a pair of booms held a fixed distance apart at their inboard ends on the ship and of while permitting swinging up and down in a vertical plane, a device carried by the boom to form a way on which persons can walk in embarking and disembarking, and means connected with the outer ends of the booms for rendering the same buoyant.

3. The combination of a ship, with an apparatus for permitting persons to embark and disembark, said apparatus comprising a pair of booms, means for connecting the inboard ends of the booms with the side of the ship and in spaced relation and permitting the booms to swing up and down on the inboard ends as centers, buoyant means on the outboard ends of the booms, and a net carried by the booms and including trans verse members spaced apart whereby the net is supported in a manner approximating steps for facilitating the movement of persons in embarking and disembarking.

4. The combination of a ship, with a life saving apparatus, said apparatus comprising an inclined way having its inboard end movably connected with the side of the ship adjacent the main deck thereof, means on the outboard end for rendering the same buoyant, said means including a landing to which life boats may be moored, and fore and aft guys connected with the outboard ends of the said inclined way and connected with the ship at points fore and aft of the inboard end of the inclined way, said way including booms which rise and fall with the waves of the water and maintain the said landing from the side of the ship.

5. The combination of a ship, with a life the outboard end for rendering the same buoyant, said means including a landing to which life boats may be moored, fore and aft guys connected with the outboard ends I of the said inclined way and connected with the ship at points fore and aft of the inboard end of the inclined way, and a topping lift connected with the outer end of the inclined way and with the ship for hauling up the inclined way.

6. The combination of a ship, with a life saving apparatus therefor, said apparatus comprising a pair of booms hingedly connected with the side of the ship and adapted to be held in a position inclined downwardly therefrom to reach the water, a net sustained by the booms, and a float on the outer end of each boom to permit independent rising and falling of the booms with the movement of the water.

7. The combination of a ship, with a life saving apparatus therefor, said apparatus comprising a pair of booms hingedly connected with the side of the ship and adapted to be held in a position. inclined downwardly therefrom to reach the water, a net sustained by the booms, buoyant means on the outer ends of the booms for sustaining the latter, and flexible elements extending from the outer ends of the booms to the vessel at points forwardly and rearwardly thereof for preventing lateral swinging of the booms about their inner hinged ends as centers.

8. The combination of a ship, with a life saving appar tus therefor, said apparatus comprising a pair of booms hingedly connected with the side of the ship and adapted to be held in a position inclined clownwardly therefrom to reach the water, floats on the outer ends of the booms, a net sustained by the booms, and a life raft attached to the outer end of the net to form a landing for lifeboats.

9. The combination of a ship, with a life saving apparatus, said apparatus comprising a pair of booms extending outwardly and downwardly from the side of the ship to the water, a net disposed between the booms, sliding means on the booms to which the edges of the net are connected, outhaul means for drawing the net outwardly, inhaul means for drawing the net inwardly, and means on the outer ends of the booms for causing the latter to rise and fall with the water.

10. The combination of a ship, with a life saving apparatus, said apparatus comprising a pair of booms extending outwardly and downwardly from the side of the ship to the water, a net disposed between the booms, sliding means on the booms to which the edges of the net are connected, outhaul means for drawing the net outwardly, inhaul means for drawing the net inwardly, and means attached to the outboard end of the net to form a boat landing. V

11. The combination of a ship, with life saving apparatus, said apparatus comprising a pair of booms hingedly connected with the side of the ship, means connecting the outboard ends of the boom together and extending into the ship, whereby the booms can be drawn together to their proper relation, fore and aft guys connected with the outer ends of the booms and fastened to the ship at points fore and aft of the inboard ends of the booms, and means carried by the booms to form an inclined way for passengers to embark and disembark.

12. The combination of a ship, with life saving apparatus, said apparatus comprising a pair of booms hingedly connected with the side of the ship, means connecting the outboard ends of the boom together and extending into the ship, whereby'the booms can be drawn together to their proper relation, fore and aft guys connected with the outer ends of the booms and fastened to the ship at points fore and aft of the inboard ends of the booms, means carried by the booms to form an inclined way for passengers to embark and disembark, and a boat-landing fastened at the outboard end of the said means.

18. The combination of a ship, with a life saving apparatus comprising a pair of booms, buoyant at their outer ends, whereby they will rise and fall with the water, rings thereon, a net disposed between the booms, and hooks for detachably connecting the side edges of the net with the rings.

14. The combination of a ship, with a life saving apparatus comprising a pair of booms connected with the sides of the ship at spaced points and adapted'to be thrown respectively forward and aft when not in use, floats attached to the free ends of the booms, said booms being adapted to be rigged in a position extending outwardly and downwardly from the side of the ship and to support a net.

15. The combination of a ship having a removable section in its bulwark or rail at its main deck, with a life saving apparatus comprising booms mounted at the main deck at opposite sides of the removable section and normally extending fore and aft from the said removable section, means for suspending the booms in outstanding position from the side of the ship and reaching to the water, and a net supported by the booms and detachable therefrom.

16. The combination of a ship having a removable section in its bulwark or rail at its main deck, with a life saving apparatus comprising booms mounted at the main deck at opposite sides of the removable section and normally extending fore and aft from the said removable section, means for suspending the booms in outstanding position from the side of the ship and reaching to the water, a net supported by the booms and detachable therefrom, and a life raft detachably connected with the outboard end of the net to form a landing.

17 The combination of a ship having a removable section in its bulwark or rail at its main deck, with a life saving apparatus comprising booms mounted at the main deck at opposite sides of the removable section and normally extending fore and aft from the said removable section, means for suspending the booms in outstanding position from the side of the ship and reaching to the water, external channels in the bulwark for receiving the respective booms when not in use, and floats shackled to the free ends of the booms and permanently connected therewith.

18. The combination of a ship, with a life saving apparatus adapted to extend outwardly from the side of the ship to the water and buoyant at their outer ends to rise and fall with the water, means for supporting the inboard end of the apparatus on the side of the ship at a point below the main deck and including means for raising the apparatus to the main deck for unrigging the same, and means between the inboard end of the apparatus and main deck to permit passengers to pass from the main deck to the apparatus, and vice versa, said apparatus including booms projecting outwardly and downwardly from the side of the ship and supporting a net to form an inclined way which freely rises and falls with the water with its outer end substan tially maintained away from the ship.

19. The combination of a ship having rails on its side extending downwardly from the main deck, slides movable on the rails, booms hingedly connected with the slides, means for raising and lowering the slides, a net carried by the booms, and means extending between the upper end of the net and the deck for permitting passengers to pass between the net and the main deck.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR N. MGGRAY.

Witnesses:

CHATTIN BROADWAY, PHILIP D. ROLLHAUS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

